Nick's News

There has been so much about Xander lately. I feel like I need to refocus on what I want to be doing with Nick. And Nick has some news as of about ten minutes ago.

First, I left him buckled into his booster seat while I got a washcloth to wash him off, and he was fussing. Then a crash and lots of crying. He knows I have to do something with his buckles before I get him out and he must have learned what I do!!!! The buckles were unbuckled and he was on the floor, poor baby! But he didn't seem hurt, just mad and frightened, and he calmed down immediately when I put on Baby Signing Time.

When I was examining him, I found evidence of his other piece of news. A tooth is just poking through, a lateral incisor. His sixth. He's been acting like he's teething for months now, so this is a relief. Although who knows, there may be many more coming right behind it. He actually seems a little behind in getting his teeth.

This morning he threw up in independent playtime and I wondered if it had to with teething or if he was sick. We seem to have the answer now.

Xander's Reaction to the Dentist Visit

I should mention that Xander seemed calm after the x-rays and tooth brushing and flossing were over. For the doctor's part, just checking his teeth with mirror and scraper, he was fine. He got to choose a toy from their bin at the end and actually ended up with two small dinosaurs thanks to the kindness of the technician. That made him smile.

Xander's First Dentist Visit

Ugh, I have a nervous stomach after this visit. Xander, overall, probably feels better than I do, but he was quite nervous and half-crying during some parts of his visit. (The x-ray room and camera made him nervous and the water sprayer really bothered him for some reason. I think whenever he had to have something far back in his little mouth he felt scared.) The worst part is he will have to go back. He has cavities and tooth decay in between many of his (crowded) teeth.

For his procedure, they will use oral sedation, some laughing gas, and a protective net to keep the child straight in the chair! I hope this works to keep him calm and maybe not remember much of it, but I am feeling sick to my stomach just thinking of having to help put him in that chair. He will be fine, but will he think he's going to be fine?? The other part of my sick stomach is the cost! Even if our insurance pays for nearly everything, we will still have to pay over $200 for the sedation.

I have never had a cavity so any dental procedure at all sounds bad to me. Ugh. It has me thinking about Nick's visits in the future - and he's a thumb sucker. Sigh.

Being A Teacher

Xander came out of roomtime to see me on the computer wearing my glasses. These days, I wear my glasses about two times a year.

He said, "Nice glasses you got on."

I said, "Thank you."

He said, "You look like you are being a teacher. Are you?"

I didn't know the glasses-teacher stereotype was learned so young!

Answers

Xander and I are reading a children's history of William Shakespeare. The author posed some questions that are at the foundation of his plays. Xander had his own answers for two out of the three.

I read, "What is life about?"

Silence.

"How shall we act?"

Xander: "Good!"

"What must we do?"

"Fight in Narnia!"

My children have a lot of answers these days. In the back yard, Nick walked away from me but kept looking back with that knowing toddler expression that seems to say, "Do you understand what I am communicating to you? Let me try again until you can get it."

I said, "Bye-bye!" but he kept looking meaningfully at me.

So I said, "Are you coming back to me, Nick?"

He shook his head and said, "no," with a shy tone of voice. Then he moved with purpose to the slide.

I had an uncanny feeling the whole time that he was much older than 14 months.

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I added a "Subscribe" option at the bottom of the page. This should allow anyone who would like to subscribe to this blog and receive notification of posts.

Arts and Other Stuff

Nick is in his booster seat with tray, coloring in a coloring book with his non-toxic washable crayons. Of the arts projects I've tried with him, this one is keeping him occupied longest!

The Mengs seem pretty settled into their new place and loving it. It sounds like a great neighborhood to live in with kids. Bailey has 4-year-old friends nearby. I always forget about this, but we should Skype with them soon!

Xander did not cry on the way home from school today so I think we're making progress. (The last two days he cried a little bit about wanting to bring his bag home from school and being hungry.) Not very big issues, just a display of him being tired out from school. I did bring him a chocolate milk when I went to pick him up today. So far, in terms of using his energy and intellectual and social capacity, school has been good for him. He slept well last night. I hope that is a sign of deeper sleep during this school year.